Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command of The Royal Canadian Legion www.ns.legion.ca 129 There have been several informative books and articles written since the end of the Great War and there are many stories to tell and many accomplishments to highlight regarding Pipers of the Great War. What follows is part of a much larger story of pipers from Canada’s east coast who served overseas during both world wars, beginning with pipers in the 25th Nova Scotia Overseas Battalion. Background It is well known among pipers today that during the First World War, pipers were used to march soldiers to and from the front lines and would often pipe their comrades ‘over the top’. In some units, pipers would compete for this honour, a tradition which originated among Scotland’s highland regiments, and often permission to perform this task had to be granted by a senior officer. The toll on pipers was devastating and out of several thousand pipers from Britain and the Empire, it has been suggested that over 500 pipers were killed in action with another 600 being wounded. (This number has been enlarged recently to over 2,000). In an effort to limit the casualties as a result of this practice it was decided to transfer the musicians to support roles. In addition to entertaining the troops, pipers and drummers were employed as messengers, stretcher-bearers, and ammunition carriers. Due to the restructuring of the role, there were many casualties among pipers who may not have been playing their comrades into battle, or have been missed in the list of those wounded/ killed. For instance, Angus MacIntyre, served with the 24th Field Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, and saw action at several battles of the war including Vimy Ridge. He instructed many individuals to play bagpipe over his lifetime in Glace Bay. Similarly, John R. MacIsaac, a talented piper from Bein Eoin, Cape Breton was also in the field artillery but he was killed in 1915. When notice of his son’s death reached his father, Rory ‘Shim’ MacIsaac, a piper and fiddler, he was so affected by the news he never cared to play the pipes again. In addition, two other pipers from Cape Breton serving overseas left out of the lists of wounded/killed were Donald J. Nicholson and Archie Andrew MacLellan. Nicholson was wounded while playing the troops of the 85th Battalion, Nova Scotia Highlanders into action at the Battle of Lens, and died of his wounds June 29, 1917. MacLellan, was piper in the 185th Battalion, Cape Breton Highlanders, but towards the end of the war he was transferred to the Royal Canadian Regiment. He was wounded on November 10, 1918, and died from wounds on Armistice Day, November 11, 1918, possibly the last ‘piper’ to die in that conflict. Pipers of the 25th Nova Scotia Overseas Battalion in World War 1 Pipe Band of the 25th Battalion, c. 1915. Back row, left-to-right: Mike MacDougall, William Brand, Walter Telfer, David Brand, David Neilson, Arthur Lavery, Jim Cant, Angus Campbell. Middle row: John ‘Jock’ Carson, Major MacRae, Major MacKenzie, Lt.Colonel LeCain, Captain Logan, Lieut. MacNeil, Dan Morrison. Front row: Ronald C. MacDonald, Bernard Kane, Arthur Muise. Archie A. MacLellan dressed in the uniform of the Nova Scotia Highland Brigade. (Photo: Sears Collection) continued ...
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